Dec 4 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) Ltd RIO.AX :
* SIMON THOMPSON TO SUCCEED JAN DU PLESSIS AS CHAIRMAN
* THOMPSON, WHO JOINED RIO TINTO BOARD AS A NON- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN 2014, WILL BECOME CHAIRMAN ON 5 MARCH 2018
* SAM LAIDLAW WILL SUCCEED THOMPSON AS CHAIR OF RIO TINTO REMUNERATION COMMITTEE WITH EFFECT FROM 5 MARCH 2018